GC, as a photographer, I need your opinion and help!
 

I have my ideas for this but I need you guys to help me refine it. When you hear the phrase Only the Strong Survive, what comes to mind IN RELATION TO A WOMAN?

(btw, I will give due credit!)

Cancer.

Jessica, I see what you're saying, (and thank you) but I guess I should have said, what comes to your mind visually and physically? I'm trying to visually illustrate this phrase.

The wife or mother of a slain member of the Military at their funeral when they are handed the folded American flag.

CAn't think of specific images for the below:

Yeardley Love's mom and sister (UVA lacrosse player who was murdered over the weekend)

The mother of any son/daughter taken too young be it from illness, accident, violence or suicide.

http://images.whereilive.com.au/imag...3b_resized.JPG

Something loosely like this but leaning more on the "strong and survive" notion as balanced with notions of femininity.

I DEFINITELY don't see anything sad or tear jerker.

The Rosie the Riveter poster from WWII, where she is flexing her arm, with the caption, "Yes We Can", or something like that.

I thought of a breast cancer walk, and specifically an image of a woman who had had a mastectomy.

I initially thought of this too, but I also urge caution and sensitivity. There are plenty of VERY strong women who have faced cancer but who sadly were not able to beat the disease. I know you would never want to insinuate that those who fell to the disease were not strong. The term "only" is what makes me a tad uneasy.

(my husband is an oncologist and I have just heard too many heartbreaking stories. Some types of cancers are just so bad it just doesn't matter how strong one fights.. the cancer always wins. Sad.)

NP- great question and I really like the military suggestion. I will try to think of others. Again the "only" makes this hard for me!

I see a woman who has clearly gone through a trial in her life but has come through victorious. Like a single mother who put all 5 of her children through college on her own, or a woman who had a baby while in medical school and was able to graduate ... something like that.

I hope this helps and good luck :)

A woman busting out of chains.

I agree with this.

A woman sweating like a hog while jogging on a treadmill to the Jerry Butler song. (I think this was a Weight Watchers or some weight-loss food commercial a few years ago.)

a solo :D

a woman sitting quietly while reflecting over her life and the trials she's faced.

A grandmotherly woman, white-haired, wrinkled, but beautiful and vibrant, with a twinkle in her eye. (my grannie :)) I am thinking a beauty shot type of image almost. Close up, nowhere to hide, where you see everything.

This will sound completely inappropriate, but I love old people. I love that you can look at them and know that if they have lived this long, they have seen and been through some things. I love old people who still have a spring in their step and a zest for living. That, to me, is strength and survival. :)

Good luck.

To take a different route--and be quite a bit shallower--one might see a woman faced with a cloud of tweezers, flat irons/furling irons, corsets (or Spanx), blow dryers, eyelash curlers, etc..., or one woman facing a group of intimidating-looking women.

I also think of female soldiers.

ETA: I love Little32's idea.

I also kind of like the idea of a professional woman facing "the ol' boys club" in the workplace.

Women and their guns.

I see it as much more mundane and perhaps a montage. A woman in her business suit in a meeting. A woman with infants and toddlers. A woman holding her brand new baby. Something that says "everyday life isn't easy" and every woman who gets through each day is strong.

Those are the thoughts of the 45 y/o single mom who is working full time and in grad school... and feeling really beat up right now! lol

I love all of those ideas...

I'd throw in a woman coming from an abusive home, or a back ground of drugs and violence. Maybe a large image of a woman in a business suit and some kick ass heels stepping on and squashing a smaller image of what her life was before. That would send out the message that you are bigger than what you come from.

sports

http://product.images.fansedge.com/33-59/33-59956-F.jpg
brandi chastain's `99 world cup winning goal

She's gonna end up doing a collage and we're gonna end up millionaires from the profits.

<----vivid imagination regardless of evidence to the contrary--a sign of women and strength

Perhaps somehow getting the point across of a working woman at home trying to care for her family as well? Similar to what Dee said.

My first reaction: natural selection. Although it's more of a wildlife idea, it could be applied to another situation.

I like the business woman idea- especially if you make it clear that it's the corporate world. Several industries have a fair amount of women overall, but relatively few women in leadership. Accounting, consulting, and IT would be a few examples. It takes a very strong, determined, and sharp woman to make it to leadership positions.

I think I prefer the empowerment or day-to-day representation over more serious/grave. A humorous version of the mom idea would be great- think Lynette from Desperate Housewives. Wild hair & eyes, sweats, toys everywhere, kids hanging off the mom/couch/lamp/whatever. And I think a lot of people could emapathize, even with the dramatized version :)

an Amazonian woman

a Queen.

A series of images:

A woman as a baby--starting from the womb into entering into this world and her mother holding her.

A woman as a toddler/girl--her firsts-learning to walk,talk, climb, grab, speak, etc.

A woman as a little girl-around the ages of 5 to 9--entering school, learning new ideas, learning how to gain friends (sometimes those life long ones)

A woman as a "young lady" around the ages ot 10 to 15--entering into her age of blossoming from that of an -ahem-bare chested young lady into the development of who she feels/thinks/has an ideal about who she is to become.

A woman as a lady-around the ages of 16 to 21/22--finishing hs, going to the prom, entering into college, joining various organizations, finishing college, and beginning her career.

A woman whom she is to become-around the ages of 22 to 32--those first loves, first jobs, first homes/apts, first paychecks, and the realities of the world that she'll sometimes face in life. Learning how to take the good with the bad and learning how to make those mistakes and getting back on track.

A woman who is entering into her life with steam--around the ages of 33 to 41--she is who she is, she knows what she wants, she is getting what she needs, and she is living with her decisions. She is empowering herself and those around her and she is sustaining her life and her loves.

A woman entering into Adulthood--around the ages of 42 to 55--she is enjoying the fruits of her life and realizing that she doesn't have to take shit for an answer. Her spirituality is fully entact and she is seen as a helper to those around her and those "young girls" come to her for advice.

A woman entering into Life--around the ages of 65 to 65--her life is what it is and she doesn't have to prove a damn thing to anyone! Her friends see her as stable, her family sees her as a leader, her children see her as more than just Momma, they see her as a leader, their best friend, and would jump infront of a train for her! She gives advice, people tend to follow, because they know she has been through something before and lived this long to tell!

A woman as she has Seen It All--Around ages 66 to beyond--she may be surrounded by grandbabies and greats, she may be surrounded by loved ones or not, but she is the Matriarch of the family and is loved by all! She may have white hair or just a "touch" of grey, but all of her hairs, she's earned and if each one could tell the story of how they came to be--whooo weee! Her hands may have some wrinkles or may have developed strong veins that pop up on the back, but they are strong, full of authority, full of faith, and always will give love. She'll have her purse-it may be old and wrinkled, a basic "black bag," it may be small, it may be large, or it just may have nothing but a hanky, but it's full of many surprises, and it's always open to those in need. She may walk with a cane, a limp, a walker, or just be a "little slow in gettin' around," but she manages and walks proud with her head held high. She'll have that hat cocked to the side, it'll be fancy or plain, but it's what's underneath that's full of surprises and full of knowledge.

NP-Hope this helps.

THANK YOU ALL!! All of your ideas are fantastic! It's just sometimes I get stuck and need help.

There is PLENTY to work with here and I will shoot my person this week and I will let you all know what worked.

I appreciate ALL of your ideas & help!

A woman who is rock climbing, no ropes or harnesses, and she's reaching the top. The picture is taken from the top looking down on her, and you can see all the way to the ground, with all kinds of obstacles behind her (water, boulders, trees, critters, etc.). She could have some symbolism of what previous people mentioned, a pink ribbon, a American flag or other military insignia, a necklace that says mom, etc.

An older woman, at least 40-50, in a cap and gown, with a diploma and a huge smile.

Kerri Strug, when she made the vault that won the gold for the USA Olympic Team.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:0...6/053/FzaI.jpg

A thin Sarah, Duchess of York, with one of the books she wrote.

An elderly woman who just got BINGO!

The newest Miss America, after being announced.

Celine Dion, as she sings My Heart Will Go On. (I know, the thought gags me, too, but she does look very triumphant when she does it)

Actually something else that pops up. Maybe a female instrumentalist. In non classical music female instrumentalists usually have to fight harder to make a name.

and all the angry elderly people around her.

Thinking about it more (from an advertising perspective), you need to define (for the sake of whatever you are working on), what the words "strong" and "survive" means.

Many strong people don't "survive" or succeed to an end point, whether you are talking about someone (literally) dying from a disease, not making it through boot camp or a marathon, or getting a high enough score on a test on the bar exam.

I'm sorry! I didn't update ya'll on what I did.

This is the idea that I used and I received an A on the project!:)

Again, I wanted to extend a hearty THANK YOU to everyone for taking time out of your lives to help me with this. I appreciate ALL of your ideas because they are/were FANTASTIC!

Congrats!

Thanks!:D